Parents need to know that Hitchcock isn't a full biopic of legendary director Alfred Hitchcock but rather a snippet of his personal and professional life as he made one of his most famous movies, Psycho. There are a few scenes of disturbing violence: the murder of a brother; a dead, bloody woman being dragged into a bathtub, and a killer who sleeps with his dead mother. The frightening shower scene from Psycho is depicted, with Hitchcock himself holding the butcher knife to elicit realistic screams from actress Janet Leigh. The language is comparatively mild ("ass," "damn"), but there are allusions to infidelity and sexual obsession, plus shots of kissing, groping, and women in their underwear.

Families can talk about how Hitchcock is about making a movie. In what ways has the movie industry changed since Hitchcock's time? How is it the same (for example, Hitchcock says a director is only ever as good as his last project)?

Is this really a biopic about Hitchcock or just a small glimpse of his life? What do we not know about Hitchcock? How could you find out more?

The relationship between Hitchcock and his wife is explored. What do you think of their marriage? Should Alma be credited with the making of Psycho?

The good stuff

Messages: Hitchcock is the story of the director's professional and personal journey to make one of the most important works of his career. The movie encourages artistic risks, commitment to your craft, and the importance of marital partnership and collaboration.

Role models: Alfred Hitchcock is a driven, visionary director who puts up his own funds to make the movie he feels destined to make. Alma Reville is an amazing wife and partner to him. She collaborates with him professionally, fills in for him when he's sick, and keeps him as sane as she can without sacrificing her entire identity. Even when she's tempted by an emotional connection to another man, she doesn't give in and stays loyal to Hitchcock. Janet Leigh gives Hitchcock the benefit of the doubt, even though she's warned about how tyrannical he can be with his leading ladies.

What to watch for

Violence: The murders of real-life serial killer Ed Gein are shown briefly -- from his first murder of his brother (via a hit to the head) to a bloodied dead woman he drags to a bathtub. There's also a scene in which Gein is shown sleeping with his dead mother. Psycho's infamous shower scene is depicted, with Hitchcock wielding a butcher's knife to make Leigh scream more convincingly.

Sex: Hitchcock stares through a peep hole at an actress undressing. Leigh's ample bosom is discussed (like the fact that one frame shows her nipple in the shower scene), and she, Alma, and Vera Miles are all shown in their period undergarments (cone-shaped bras, full-coverage underwear, and slips). Alma and Alfred hug and kiss a couple of times. A married man is shown mid-affair (groping and kissing a woman who's in her bra and panties). There's a brief shot of two actors filming a love scene on a bed (she's in lingerie, he's shirtless).

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